ICOMIA podcast: ICOMIA’s role in shaping a sustainable and accessible marine future

The International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) has launched its latest podcast. Frank Hugelmeyer, president & CEO of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and president of ICOMIA, outlines his priorities for ICOMIA and the global marine industry.

Hugelmeyer says international cooperation is key. He’ll look to strengthen collaboration between trade associations worldwide to present a unified voice on key issues such as regulation, sustainability, and trade.

Hugelmeyer is also devoted to market growth, which he sees growing by ensuring the boating lifestyle becomes more accessible and appealing to younger generations by embracing technologies like autonomy and AI, making boating safer, easier, and more affordable.

Building on ICOMIA’s reputation for harmonising global standards through initiatives such as the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) project is key to sustainability and regulation as well as maintaining the industry’s ability to self-regulate.

Success lies in unified action, knowledge-sharing, and fostering innovation as well as addressing demographic shifts by connecting better with younger consumers who are fast becoming the majority with real spending power. Under his leadership, he says, ICOMIA will continue to set standards, share best practices, and push the industry towards a more sustainable, accessible, and globally integrated future.

This episode underscores ICOMIA’s role as the collective voice of 80–90 per cent of the global industry, bringing together associations from across the world to collaborate on growth, regulation, and sustainability.